Optimal content distribution in Video-on-Demand tree networks

ABSTRACT

A method provides for the optimal location of servers and the optimal assignment of programs to the servers in a video-on-demand (VOD) network with a tree topology. Each node may have demands for multiple VOD programs. The central server at the root of the network stores all programs, and each of the other servers may store some of these programs. The cost considered include cost of servers, cost of assigning programs to servers, and cost of link bandwidths used for broadcasting programs from servers to demands at various nodes. The demand for a specific program is served by the closest server that has this program along the path that connects the requesting node to the root of the tree network. The invention consists of a dynamic programming method that determines optimal server locations and optimal program assignments for minimizing the costs. Starting from the end-nodes of the tree network, the method determines optimal solutions to sub-trees, eventually reaching the root node, thus providing an optimal solution to the entire network.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to Video-on-Demand (VOD) networks. Specifically, the invention relates to content distribution in video-on-demand networks and more specifically, the invention concerns location of servers and assignment of programs to servers in networks with tree topology.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many telecommunications network services providers and cable TV operators are showing significant interest in provisioning Video-on-Demand (VOD) services. These services are expected to grow significantly over time. Primary application areas include on-demand home entertainment, distance learning and training, and news-on-demand. These services require significant capital investments. In one extreme network configuration, a central server would broadcast all programs to all demand nodes, imposing very large bandwidth requirements on numerous links. In another extreme, a server would be installed at every node and all programs that might be requested would be stored at the node. The latter configuration would require a large number of servers and would incur large storage and processing costs.

The present invention considers a flexible configuration in which servers can be located in a subset of the nodes and a subset of the programs is assigned to each of the servers. In practice, the programs are aggregated into program families, where a program family includes multiple programs with the same characteristics. For example, children's movies may be represented by one family, action movies by another, etc. As used hereinbelow, a program family is referred to as a program.

Various related problems have been explored. A. Balakrishnan, T. L. Magnanti, and R. T. Wong, “A Decomposition Algorithm for Local Access Telecommunications Network Expansion Planning”, Operations Research, 43, 58-76, 1995, B. Li, M. J. Golin, G. F. Italiano, and X. Deng, “On the Optimal Placement of Web Proxies in the Internet”, Proceedings of IEEE INFOCOM 1999 Conference, V. 3, 1282-1290, 1999, O. E. Flippo, A. W. J. Kolen, A. M. C. A. Koster, and R. L. M. J. Van de Leensel, “A Dynamic Programming Algorithm for the Local Access Telecommunication Network Expansion Problem”, European Journal of Operational Research, 127, 189-202, 2000, T. Carpenter, M. Eiger, P. Seymour, and D. Shallcross, “Node Placement and Sizing for Copper Broadband Access Networks”, Annals of Operations Research, 106, 199-228, 2001, I. Cidon, S. Kutten, and R. Soffer, “Optimal Allocation of Electronic Content”, Computer Networks 40, 205-218, 2002, and C. A. Behrens, T. Carpenter, M. Eiger, H. Luss, G. Seymour, and P. Seymour, “Digital Subscriber Line Network Deployment Method”, U.S. Pat. No. 7,082,401, issued Jul. 25, 2006 present models and variations of dynamic programming algorithms for placing concentrators in traditional access networks and for placing equipment for diverse broadband services. Such equipment may include Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Access Multiplexers for DSL services, Optical Network Units in Fiber-to-the-Curb networks and in cable networks, web proxies, etc. The algorithms presented in these references can be used to solve a special case of the present invention in which all programs are assigned to all servers. G. Dammicco, U. Mocci, and F. U. Bordoni, “Optimal Server Location in VOD Networks”, Global Telecommunications Conference (GLOBECOM) 1997, IEEE 1, 197-201, 3-8 Nov., 1997 present a simple model for server locations and program assignments in VOD tree networks. Their model partitions the tree nodes into levels where all nodes of the same level are equally far from node 0 in terms of number of hops. The model finds the optimal level where servers should be installed and the optimal subset of programs that should be assigned to servers at that level. The model is restrictive as all nodes at the selected level would have a server and the same subset of programs. T. Bektas, O. Oguz, and I. Ouveysi, “Designing Cost-Effective Content Distribution Networks”, Computers and Operations Research, article in press, expected to appear in 2007 (available online, 13 Oct. 2005) discuss a content distribution model for a logical tree network, where servers are directly connected to the central server and each of the demand nodes is directly connected to one of the servers. The resulting network configuration is limited to trees with a depth of two hops from the root node to the demand nodes.

The present invention uses a dynamic programming optimization method to determine optimal location of servers throughout a network with a general tree topology and optimal assignment of programs to each of these servers. Current state-of-the-art systems use ad-hoc heuristics and communications network managers' experience to design such flexible network configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method for content distribution in video-on-demand (VOD) networks with a tree topology. Consider a tree network with a server at the root node that stores P program families, referred to as programs. Each node in the network has demands for a subset of the P programs. Although the server at the root node can broadcast the P different VOD programs throughout the tree network, the resulting required bandwidth on the network links would be very large. In the other extreme, a server would be installed at every node of the network and all programs that might be requested would be stored at the node. The latter configuration would require a large number of servers and would incur large storage and processing costs. A more effective configuration is to install servers at a selected subset of nodes of the network and store a subset of the programs at each of these nodes. Accordingly, the present invention determines optimal server locations and optimal assignment of programs to each of these servers. The invention considers cost of servers, cost of assigning programs to servers, and cost of link bandwidths used for broadcasting programs. A dynamic programming optimization method is used to determine the optimal server location and program assignment decisions.

The present invention will be more clearly understood when the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graphical representation of the content distribution problem for a VOD tree network.

FIG. 2 illustrates input for an example of the content distribution problem solved for illustration purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the figures and to FIG. 1 in particular, there is shown an example of a VOD tree network 100. The network includes thirteen nodes 101-1 13. Node 101 (also labeled as node 0) is the root node. The nodes are interconnected by links 117-128. Node 101 has the central VOD server. The central VOD server stores all the programs, labeled as p=1, 2, . . . , P, where in the present example P=10. Below each node, in parentheses, are specified the programs requested at that node, for instance, node 105, also labeled as node 4, has demand for programs 6 and 8, and node 108, also labeled as node 7, has demand for programs 1, 2 and 3. In this example, nodes 101, 102, 103, 106 and 107 have no requested demands. In this example, in addition to the server at node 101, servers are also installed at nodes 102 and 107 (the shaded nodes, also labeled as nodes 1 and 6). Boxes 114-116 represent the programs stored in each respective server. The server at node 102 stores and broadcasts programs specified in 115, namely, programs 1, 2, 3 and 4, and the server at node 107 stores and broadcasts programs specified in 116, namely, programs 7, 8, 9 and 10. All the demands at nodes 104, 108, 109, 110 are served by the server at node 102, except for demand 5 at node 109. Similarly, the server at node 107 serves demands 7 at node 111, demands 8, 9 and 10 at node 112, and demands 7 and 9 at node 113. The central server at node 101 stores all 10 programs in 114 but broadcasts only some of them. It broadcasts demand 5 to node 109, demands 6 and 8 to node 105, and demand 6 to nodes 111 and 113. The central server at node 101 also routes programs 1-4 to the server at node 102 and programs 7-10 to the server at node 107. The routing cost of a program from the central server at node 101 to other servers is negligible as it occurs only once.

The input to the proposed method includes the network topology, the requested demands at each of the nodes in the network, and cost parameters. The cost parameters considered include a cost for installing a server, a cost for assigning a program to a server, and bandwidth costs incurred on the links. The link costs are incurred for broadcasting programs from a server to the appropriate demands at various nodes.

This invention provides a method for the Content Distribution (CONDIS) Model that formulates the server location and program assignment problem as an optimization problem.

Consider a tree network with nodes n=0, 1, . . . , N, where node 0 is the root of the tree and the number of nodes in the tree is N+1. The nodes are labeled so that a node that is farther away (in number of hops) from the root has a higher label than any node that is closer to the root; see FIG. 1. Index j is also used as an index for nodes. The links of the tree are indexed by I (and sometimes by j or n), and the link label is the same as the label of its end-node that is farther from the root. For example, link 6 in FIG. 1 (labeled as 122) is the link that connects nodes 2 and 6 (103 and 107). Let p be the index for programs, p=1, 2, . . . , P, where P is the number of available VOD programs.

The following set notation is used in our formulation:

I_(n)=Set of programs p requested at node n.

QL(j, n)=Set of links on the path that connect nodes j and n (j<n).

QN(j, n)=Set of nodes (including the end-nodes) on the path that connects nodes j and n (j≦n).

Thus, for example, in FIG. 1, I₁=Ø and I₁₂={6, 7, 9}, QL(0, 12)={2, 6, 12}, QN(0, 12)={0, 2, 6, 12}, and QN(12, 12)={12}.

Cost parameters included in the model:

-   c_(lp)=Cost of bandwidth on link l required for broadcasting program     p on link l to reach some demand nodes. -   S_(j)=Fixed cost of installing a server at node j. -   s_(jp)=Cost of assigning program p to a server at node j. This cost     includes storage and control cost of program p at node j.

As already mentioned, the cost of routing a program from the central server at the root to any other server is negligible.

The decision variables:

-   z_(j)=0-1 decision variables z_(j)=1 if a server is installed at     node j, and 0 otherwise. -   y_(jp)=0-1 decision variables y_(jp)=1 if program p is assigned to a     server at node j, and 0 otherwise. -   u_(jnp)=0-1 decision variables. u_(jnp)=1 if a server at node j is     the broadcasting server of program p to node n, where node n has     demand for program p, and 0 otherwise. -   v_(lp)=0-1 decision variables. v_(lp)=1 if program p is broadcast on     link I to at least one node, and 0 otherwise.

It is assumed that the demand for program p at node n must be served by a server at a node j ε QN(0, n). Thus, in FIG. 1, program 8 at node 4 can only be served by the server at node 0; it cannot be served by the server at node 6. Although this assumption can be relaxed so that program p at node n can also be served by a server that has program p and is not in QN(0, n), the resulting solutions would be impractical for VOD applications. It is also assumed that the parameters c_(lp)>0, which implies that program p at node n will be served by the closest server to n in QN(0, n) that carries program p.

The Content Distribution Model is formulated below:

The CONDIS Model

$\begin{matrix} {{W^{*} = {\min \left\lbrack {{\sum\limits_{j = 0}^{N}\; {S_{j}z_{j}}} + {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^{N}\; {\sum\limits_{p = 1}^{P}\; {s_{jp}y_{jp}}}} + {\sum\limits_{l = 1}^{N}\; {\sum\limits_{p = 1}^{P}\; {c_{lp}v_{lp}}}}} \right\rbrack}}{{so}\mspace{14mu} {that}}} & (1.1) \\ {{{\sum\limits_{j \in {{QN}{({0,n})}}}u_{jnp}} = 1},{{{for}\mspace{14mu} {all}\mspace{14mu} p} \in I_{n}},{n = 0},1,\ldots \mspace{11mu},N} & (1.2) \\ {{y_{jp} \leq z_{j}},{j = 0},1,\ldots \mspace{11mu},{{N\mspace{14mu} {and}\mspace{14mu} p} = 1},2,\ldots \mspace{11mu},P} & (1.3) \\ {{u_{jnp} \leq y_{jp}},{{{for}\mspace{14mu} {all}\mspace{14mu} p} \in I_{n}},{j \in {{QN}\left( {0,n} \right)}},{{{and}\mspace{14mu} n} = 0},1,\ldots \mspace{11mu},N} & (1.4) \\ {{v_{lp} \geq u_{jnp}},{{{for}\mspace{14mu} {all}\mspace{14mu} p} \in I_{n}},{l \in {{QL}\left( {j,n} \right)}},{j \in {{{QN}\left( {0,n} \right)}\backslash \; n}},{{{and}\mspace{14mu} n} = 1},2,\ldots \mspace{11mu},N} & (1.5) \\ {{z_{j} = 0},{{1\mspace{14mu} {and}\mspace{14mu} z_{0}} = 1},\mspace{14mu} {j = 1},2,\ldots \mspace{11mu},N} & (1.6) \\ {{y_{jp} = 0},{{1\mspace{14mu} {and}\mspace{14mu} y_{0p}} = 1},\mspace{14mu} {j = 1},\ldots \mspace{11mu},{{N\mspace{14mu} {and}\mspace{14mu} p} = 1},2,\ldots \mspace{11mu},P} & (1.7) \\ {{u_{jnp} = 0},1,{{{for}\mspace{14mu} {all}\mspace{14mu} p} \in I_{n}},{j \in {{QN}\left( {0,n} \right)}},{{{and}\mspace{14mu} n} = 0},1,\ldots \mspace{11mu},N} & (1.8) \\ {{v_{lp} = 0},1,\mspace{14mu} {l = 1},2,\ldots \mspace{11mu},{{N\mspace{14mu} {and}\mspace{14mu} p} = 1},2,\ldots \mspace{11mu},{P.}} & (1.9) \end{matrix}$

Objective (1.1) minimizes the sum of costs of installed servers, costs of assigned programs, and costs of link bandwidths required for broadcasting. Constraints (1.2) ensure that all demands at a node are served, where the server is along the path that connects the node to the root. Constraints (1.3) specify that programs can be assigned only to locations with a server. Constraints (1.4) specify that demand for program p at node n can be served by node j only if node j has a server with program p. Constraints (1.5) are needed to compute the link costs (QN(0, n)\n means all nodes on the path that connects nodes 0 and n, including node 0 but not node n). Constraints (1.6)-(1.9) specify the 0-1 variables. The CONDIS Model, as formulated by (1.1)-(1.9), is a large integer

program even for small VOD problems. Hence, using general-purpose integer programming solvers is not practical.

This invention provides a Dynamic Programming Method for solving the CONDIS Model (referred to as DPM-CONDIS). Consider tree T_(j) constructed from the tree network with node j as its root and all its descendants. For example, in FIG. 1, T₀ consists of the entire access network with nodes 0-12 and node 0 serving as the root, and T₂ consists of nodes 2, 4, 6, 10, 11 and 12 with node 2 serving as the root. For each node, P state variables are defined, one for each program p. Let x_(j)=(x_(j1), . . . , x_(jp), . . . , x_(jp)) be the vector of the P state variables at node j. State variable x_(jp) may take on three values: 0, 1, and 2. Specifically,

-   -   x_(jp)=0 means that program p is not assigned to node j         (y_(jp)=0) and program p is not broadcast into node j         (v_(jp)=0). (Recall that link j has node j as its end-node.)     -   x_(jp)=1 means that program p is assigned to node j (y_(jp)=1).         This also implies that a server is installed at node j         (z_(j)=1).     -   x_(jp)=2 means that program p is not assigned to node j         (y_(jp)=0), but it is broadcast into node j from a server at         some node QN(0, j)\j (v_(jp)=1).

Since program p requested at node n would be served by the closest server to node n that has program p, the x_(j)'s imply unique values for all decision variables in the CONDIS Model. Hence, optimal vectors x_(j) for j=0, 1, . . . , N provide optimal values for the decision variables in the CONDIS Model.

The costs at node j include the cost of installing a server at node j, the costs of assigning programs to node j and the costs for bandwidths on the incoming link into node j (i.e., link j) required for broadcasting programs to node j. Thus, the costs can be readily computed as a function of x_(j). Let δ_(j)(x_(j))=1 if x_(jp)=1 for at least one p, and 0 otherwise; and let C_(j)(x_(j)) be the cost of node j. Then,

$\begin{matrix} {{C_{j}\left( x_{j} \right)} = {{{\delta_{j}\left( x_{j} \right)}S_{j}} + {\sum\limits_{{p:x_{jp}} = 1}s_{jp}} + {\sum\limits_{{p:x_{jp}} = 2}{c_{jp}.}}}} & (2) \end{matrix}$

Consider tree T_(j). If program p is requested at node j, i.e., if p ε I_(j), then x_(jp)≠0 in any feasible solution. On the other hand, if none of the nodes in T_(j) requests program p, then x_(jp)=0 in an optimal solution. Let SUC(j) be the set of all successor nodes of j in tree T_(j). Then x_(jp)=0 implies that x_(np)≠2 for all n ε SUC(j) in any feasible solution since the incoming links into these nodes will not carry program p. These observations decrease the number of relevant state variable values. Consider, for example, tree T₉ in FIG. 1, which consists of a single node, i.e., node 9. From the above discussion, x₉₃ and x₉₄ must not be 0 whereas all other x_(9p)'s should be 0. Consider now tree T₅, and suppose x₅₃=0. Then, x₉₃=1 since node 9 requests program 3 and program 3 cannot be carried on the incoming link into node 9. If x₅₃=1 or 2, then x₉₃=1 or 2. X₉₃=1 implies that node 9 would have a server with program 3. X₉₃=2 implies that node 9 receives program 3 from the closet server to node 9 that stores program 3 along the path that connects nodes 0 and 9 (excluding node 9).

The dynamic programming method DPM-CONDIS finds optimal cost of trees T_(N), T_(N-1), . . . , T₀, with the relevant values for state variables at each node. The optimal solution is then provided by the solution of T₀, with x₀=(1, 1, . . . , 1). Let V_(j)(x_(j)) be the optimal cost of tree T_(j), given that the state of node j is x_(j). For the network in FIG. 1, the method starts by finding optimal solutions for tree T₁₂. Note that the relevant state variable values are x_(12,p)=0 for all p except for p=6, 7, 9, and x_(12,p)=1 or 2 for p=6, 7, 9. Once all V_(j)(x_(j))'s for all end-nodes j=12, 11, . . . , 7 are computed, the method proceeds to node 6 and computes V₆(x₆) for each relevant x₆. The latter includes the cost C₆(x₆) at note 6 plus the optimal cost of trees T₁₀, T₁₁ and T₁₂ for the specified x₆. Suppose x₆₆=0 and x₆₇=1. Then, at node 10 (the root of tree T₁₀) a server must be installed with at least program 6. There is a choice of assigning program 7 to the server at node 10 (x_(10,7)=1) or receiving program 7 from the server at node 6 (x_(10,7)=2). Thus, the optimal values of state variable x_(10,p) (or, equivalently, the optimal decisions at node 10) depend on the state variable vector x₆ and on the set of feasible values at node 10. After computing all relevant values V₆(x₆), optimal values for trees T₅, T₄ and T₃ are computed. Next, the method continues with trees T₂ and T₁, and finally with tree T₀. The optimal decisions are then readily retrieved from the optimal solutions at each node through standard backtracking.

The dynamic programming equations DPE-CONDIS are formulated below. Indices j and n are used to represent nodes, where node n is a successor of node j. Thus, tree T_(n) is a successor tree of tree T_(j). For example, in FIG. 1, nodes 6 and 4 are successors of node 2, and T₆ and T₄ are successor trees of tree T₂. Let FEAS_(j) be the set of feasible values of x_(j) that are potentially optimal. As explained before, the values of x_(j) ε FEAS_(j) depend on the programs requested at node j and on the programs not requested at any of the nodes in T_(j). Let FEAS_(n)(x_(j)) the set of feasible values of x_(n) that are potentially optimal, given x_(j). The feasible values of x_(n)ε E FEAS_(n),(x_(j)) depend on the programs requested at node n, on the programs not requested at any of the nodes in T_(n), and on x_(j). For example, the set FEAS₁₂ includes x_(12,p)=0 for p≠6, 7, 9 and x_(12,p)=1 or 2 for p=6, 7, 9. However, some of these values may not be included in FEAS₁₂(x₆). For example, if x_(6,p)=0 for p=6, 7, 9, then x_(12,p)=1 for these programs.

The dynamic programming equations are as follows:

DPE-CONDIS

BEGIN ${{V_{j}\left( x_{j} \right)} = {{C_{j}\left( x_{j} \right)} + {\sum\limits_{n \in {{SUC}{(j)}}}\left\lbrack {\min\limits_{x_{n} \in {{FEAS}_{n}{(x_{j})}}}{V_{n}\left( x_{n} \right)}} \right\rbrack}}},$ x_(j) ∈ FEAS_(j), j = N, N − 1, . . . , 0, (3) where FEAS₀ = {x₀ = (1, 1, . . . , 1)}. END.

If node j is an end-node (nodes 3, 4, 7-12 in FIG. 1), the summation term in (3) is equal to zero. Let x*_(n)(x_(j)) be the optimal value of x_(n), (as determined by (3)) for each n ε SUC(j) for a specified vector x_(j) (we use superscript * to denote optimal values). The dynamic programming method for CONDIS is specified below.

DPM-CONDIS

BEGIN For j = N, N−1, ..., 0,   For all x_(j) ∈ FEAS_(j),     Compute C_(j)(x_(j)) using equation (2);     If SUC(j) ≠ Ø, determine FEAS_(n)(x_(j)) for each n ∈ SUC(j);     Compute V_(j)(x_(j)) using DPE-CONDIS;     If SUC(j) ≠ Ø, record x_(n)* (x_(j)) for each n ∈ SUC(j).   End. End. Set x₀* = (1, 1,...,1). z₀* = 1 and y_(0p)* = 1 for p = 1, 2, ..., P. For n = 1, 2, ..., N,   Backtrack the optimal state variable values x_(np)* (x_(j)*), where j is   the predecessor node of node n;   Determine optimal decision variable values:     z_(n)* = 1 if x_(np)* (x_(j)*) = 1 for some p, otherwise z_(n)* = 0;     y_(np)* = 1 if x_(np)* (x_(j)*) = 1, otherwise y_(np)* = 0, for p = 1, 2, ..., P;     v_(np)* = 1 if x_(np)* (x_(j)*) = 2, otherwise v_(np)* = 0, for p = 1, 2, ..., P;     u_(jnp)* = 1 for largest index j ∈ QN(0, n) for which     y_(jp)* = 1 and p ∈ I_(n), otherwise u_(jnp)* = 0. End. END.

Objective function (1.1) in the CONDIS Model has a single cost parameter for assigning program p to a server at node j, namely, s_(jp). This is quite appropriate for nodes 1, 2, . . . , N. At the root of the tree (node 0) all the P programs are stored, since node 0 supplies these programs to all other servers. Cost s_(0p) may be partitioned into two components: s1 _(0p) and s2 _(0p). s1 _(0p) is the cost of storing program p at node 0 and supplying it to other servers (this happens only once), and s2 _(0p) is the cost of broadcasting program p to other nodes; s1 _(0p)+s2 _(0p)=s_(0p). State variable x_(0p) may then assume two values where, for instance, x_(0p)=0 would represent storing program p at a cost of s1 _(0p) without broadcasting, and x_(0p)=1 would represent storing and broadcasting program p at a cost of s1 _(0p)+s2 _(0p). The optimal cost V₀(x₀) would then be computed for all relevant values of x₀ and the minimum among these costs is selected as the optimal solution. Note that in the CONDIS Model y_(0p) would then be redefined to y_(0p)=0 if program p is stored at node 0, but not used for broadcasting, and y_(0p)=1 if program p is stored and used for broadcasting at node 0. The term s_(0p)y_(0p) in objective function (1.1) would be replaced by s1 _(0p)+s2 _(0p)y_(0p).

DPM-CONDIS can be extended to handle more flexible assignments which do not limit program p at node n to be served by a server at some node j ε QN(0, n). However, this would require a significant increase in the possible values of state variables at each node n, as each possible (j, n) combination for each p that needs to be served at node n would have to be explicitly considered. DPE-CONDIS and DPM-CONDIS would have to be revised and the computational effort would significantly increase.

DPM-CONDIS is now illustrated by means of an example shown in FIG. 2. Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an example of a tree network 200. The network includes thirteen nodes 201-213. Node 201 is the root node (also labeled as node 0). The nodes are interconnected by links 214-225. For example, link 219 connects nodes 203 and 207 (nodes 2 and 6). Recall that in the CONDIS Model a link is labeled by the end-node farther away from the root; for example, the link that connects nodes 2 and 6 is referred to as link 6. The number of programs to be broadcast is P=3. Below each node are specified the programs requested at that node, for instance, node 205, also labeled as node 4, has demand for programs 2, and node 208, also labeled as node 7, has demand for programs 1 and 3. In this example, nodes 201, 202, 203, 206 and 207 have no requested demands. Node 201 has the central VOD server. The cost of a server at node j is S_(j)=6 for all j. The cost for assigning program p to a server at node j is s_(jp)=2 for all j and p. Note that the central VOD server will be installed at node 201 with all three programs available for broadcasting, i.e., x₀=(1, 1, 1) is enforced. The parameters on the links are the bandwidth cost for broadcasting one of the programs on that link. Thus, for example, c_(7p)=3 for p=1, 2, 3, and c_(5p)=1 for p=1,2, 3, where link 7 is 220 and link 5 is 217.

The results obtained by DPM-CONDIS for this example are now presented. DPM-CONDIS starts with node 12. Table 1 presents the results. The left column has the feasible state variable values, and the right column has the corresponding cost V₁₂(x₁₂). Node 12 has only four feasible values of x_(j) since x_(12,1)=0 (no demand for p=1) and x_(12,2) and x_(12,3) should be 1 or 2. Note that for end-nodes V_(j)(x_(j))=C_(j)(x_(j)). Thus, for example, for x₁₂=(0, 1, 2) the cost includes 6 for installing a server, 2 for assigning program 2 to the server, and 3 for broadcasting program 3 on link 12 into node 12, resulting in a total cost of 11.

TABLE 1 Computation of Costs for Node 12 FEAS₁₂ V₁₂(x₁₂) (0, 1, 1) 6 + 2 + 2 = 10 (0, 1, 2) 6 + 2 + 3 = 11 (0, 2, 1) 6 + 3 + 2 = 11 (0, 2, 2) 3 + 3 = 6

The computations continue with nodes 11, then with node 10, and finally with node 0. The optimal costs V_(j)(x_(j)) for all other end-nodes 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 are simply V_(j)(x_(j))=C_(j)(x_(j)). For example, for node 11, FEAS₁₁=FEAS₁₂ and the optimal costs V₁₁(x₁₁)=V₁₂(x₁₂) for x₁₁=x₁₂. As another example, for node 10, FEAS₁₀={(0, 1, 0), (0, 2, 0)} with optimal costs V₁₀(0, 1, 0)=6+2=8 and V₁₀(0, 2, 0)=3.

Table 2 presents the optimal cost V₆(x₆) for all x₆ ε FEAS₆. The right column of Table 2 presents the optimal cost as computed by DPE-CONDIS. Consider the first row in Table 2 with state (0, 0, 0). Then, the set of feasible states at nodes 12, 11 and 10 includes only a single value, FEAS₁₂(x₆=(0, 0, 0))=FEAS₁₁(x₆=(0, 0, 0))={(0, 1, 1)}, and FEAS₁₀(x₆=(0, 0, 0))={(0, 1, 0)}. This is so since program 1 is not needed at these nodes and programs 2 and 3 are not broadcast into these nodes. As another example, consider the fifth row with state x₆=(0, 1, 1). The sets of feasible states at nodes 12, 11 and 10 are FEAS₁₂(x₆=(0, 1, 1))=FEAS₁₁(x₆=(0, 1, 1))={(0, 1, 1), (0, 1, 2), (0, 2, 1), (0, 2, 2)} and FEAS₁₀(x₆=(0, 1, 1))={(0, 1, 0), (0, 2, 0)}. The optimal solution for tree T₆ with state x₆=(0, 1, 1) is 25. Solution for all other nodes and states are derived in the same way.

TABLE 2 Computation of Costs for Node 6 FEAS₆ V₆(x₆) (0, 0, 0) 0 + V₁₂(0, 1, 1) + V₁₁(0, 1, 1) + V₁₀(0, 1, 0) = 0 + 10 + 10 + 8 = 28 (0, 0, 1) 8 + V₁₂(0, 1, 1) + V₁₁(0, 1, 1) + V₁₀(0, 1, 0) = 8 + 10 + 10 + 8 = 36 (0, 0, 2) 4 + V₁₂(0, 1, 1) + V₁₁(0, 1, 1) + V₁₀(0, 1, 0) = 4 + 10 + 10 + 8 = 32 (0, 1, 0) 8 + V₁₂(0, 1, 1) + V₁₁(0, 1, 1) + V₁₀(0, 2, 0) = 8 + 10 + 10 + 3 = 31 (0, 1, 1) 10 + V₁₂(0, 2, 2) + V₁₁(0, 2, 2) + V₁₀(0, 2, 0) = 10 + 6 + 6 + 3 = 25 (0, 1, 2) 12 + V₁₂(0, 2, 2) + V₁₁(0, 2, 2) + V₁₀(0, 2, 0) = 12 + 6 + 6 + 3 = 27 (0, 2, 0) 4 + V₁₂(0, 1, 1) + V₁₁(0, 1, 1) + V₁₀(0, 2, 0) = 4 + 10 + 10 + 3 = 27 (0, 2, 1) 12 + V₁₂(0, 2, 2) + V₁₁(0, 2, 2) + V₁₀(0, 2, 0) = 12 + 6 + 6 + 3 = 27 (0, 2, 2) 8 + V₁₂(0, 2, 2) + V₁₁(0, 2, 2) + V₁₀(0, 2, 0) = 8 + 6 + 6 + 3 = 23

The optimal solution for this example is V₀(1, 1, 1)=72. The optimal state at each node is obtained through standard backtracking. The results are: x*₀=(1, 1, 1); x*₁(x*₀)=(1, 0, 1); x₂* (x₀*) 32 (0, 2, 0); x₃* (x₁*)=(2, 0, 0); x₄* (x₂*)=(0, 2, 0); x*₅(x₁*)=(2, 0, 2); x₆*(x₂*)=(0, 1, 1); x₇*(x₅)=(2, 0, 2); x₈*(x₅*)=(2, 0, 2); x*₉(x₅*)=(2, 0, 0); x₁₀(x₆*)=(0, 2, 0); x*₁₁(x₆*)=(0, 2, 2); and x₁₂(x₆*)=(0, 2, 2).

The optimal values of the state variables at the network nodes readily imply optimal server installation and program assigning decisions. Specifically, z*₀=z*₁=z*₆=and all other z*_(j)=0; and y*₀₁=y*_(02=y*) ₀₃=y*₁₁=y*₁₃=y*₆₂=y*₆₃=1 and all other y*_(jp)=0. Thus, servers are installed in nodes 0, 1 and 6, and programs 1, 2 and 3 are assigned to the server at node 0, programs 1 and 3 are assigned to the server at node 1, and programs 2 and 3 are assigned to the server at node 6.

All other decision variables in the CONDIS Model can be uniquely determined form the y*_(jp)'s as the cost parameters c_(lp)>0 imply that program p at node n should be served by a server at node jε QN(0, n) that is the closest server to n and that has program p. Hence, u*₀₄₂=u*₁₃₁=U*₁₇₁=u*₁₇₃=u*₁₈₁=u*₁₈₃=u*₁₉₁=u*_(6,10,2)=u*_(6,11,2)=u*_(6,11,3)=u*_(6,12,2)=u*_(6,12,3)=1 and all other u*_(unp)=0. These variables, in turn, determine the v*_(lp) values used to compute the cost of bandwidth on the network links. Specifically, v*₂₂=v*₄₂=v*₃₁=v*₅₁=v*₅₃=v*₇₁=v*₇₃=v*₈₁=v*₈₃=v*₉₁=v*_(10,2)=v*_(11,2)=v*_(11,3)=v*_(12,2)=v*_(12,3)=1, and all other v*_(lp)=0. This completes the specification of the solution.

Consider the case where the cost of storing program p at the central server at node 0 for routing purposes only to other servers is s1 _(0p)=1, and the cost of broadcasting program p from node 0 to satisfy demand at other nodes is s2 _(0p)=1 for p=1, 2, 3. State variable x_(0p)=0 is used to represent storing program p at node 0 for routing purposes only (at a cost of s1 _(0p)=1), and x_(0p)=1 is used to represent storing program p at node 0 for routing and broadcasting purposes (at a cost of s1 _(0p)+s2 _(0p)=2). DPM-CONDIS can readily be adapted to find the optimal decision at node 0. In our example, the results are: V₀(0, 0, 0)=72, V₀(0, 0, 1)=73, V₀(0, 1, 0)=70, V₀(0, 1, 1)=71, V₀(1, 0, 0)=73, V₀(1, 0, 1)=74, V₀(1, 1, 0)=71, and V₀(1, 1, 1)=72. The optimal solution is V₀(0, 1, 0)=70. Note that the optimal decisions are the same as in the former example where x₀=(1, 1, 1) is enforced. The server at node 0 broadcasts only program 2 to node 4, while all other broadcasting is done from servers at nodes 1 and 6. The optimal cost is now 70, instead of 72, as the cost of assigning programs 1 and 3 at node 0 without broadcasting capabilities reduces the cost by 2.

While there has been described and illustrated a method of optimizing content distribution in video-on-demand tree networks, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations are possible without deviating from the broad teachings of the present invention which shall be limited solely by the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

1. A method for determining optimal locations of a plurality of servers in a video-on-demand network of a tree topology and optimal assignment of a plurality of programs to each of the servers comprising the step of: minimizing the total cost of the plurality of servers, plus the total cost of the plurality of programs assigned to the servers, plus the total cost of bandwidth used to broadcast the programs over links of the network while satisfying all the demands for a plurality of programs at a plurality of nodes.
 2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises using dynamic programming optimization method to determine optimal locations of the plurality of servers and optimal assignment of the plurality of programs at each of the servers.
 3. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said method further comprises using multiple state variables at each of the nodes of the network tree topology, one state variable for each program, wherein each state variable assumes a maximum of three values specifying whether the program is assigned to the node, the program is not assigned to the node but is broadcast into the node, and the program is not assigned to the node and not broadcast into the node.
 4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said method further comprises computing the cost at each node as a function of the state variable values at each node.
 5. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the dynamic programming optimization method uses dynamic programming equations DPE-CONDIS.
 6. A dynamic programming method for determining optimal locations of a plurality of servers at nodes in a video-on-demand network of a tree topology and optimal assignment of a plurality of programs to each of the servers comprising the steps of: providing a solution to the CONDIS Model wherein the solution: minimizes the total cost of the plurality of servers installed at nodes of the network of a tree topology, plus the total cost of a plurality of programs assigned to the nodes, plus the total cost of bandwidth used to broadcast the programs over a plurality of links throughout the network; and satisfying all requests for a plurality of programs at a plurality of nodes.
 7. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said method further comprises using dynamic programming method specified by DPM-CONDIS.
 8. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said method further comprises using dynamic programming equations specified by DPE-CONDIS.
 9. A dynamic programming method for optimal content distribution in a video-on-demand network of a tree topology wherein optimal content distribution comprises optimal locations of a plurality of servers and optimal assignment of a plurality of programs to each of the servers wherein said solution minimizes the total cost of a plurality of servers installed at nodes of a network of a tree topology, plus the total cost of a plurality of programs assigned to the nodes, plus the total cost of bandwidth used to broadcast the programs over a plurality of links throughout the network while satisfying demands for a plurality of programs at plurality of nodes.
 10. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the method further comprises providing optimal solution to the CONDIS Model.
 11. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the method is specified by DPM-CONDIS and the dynamic programming equations are specified by DPE-CONDIS.
 12. A system for determining optimal locations of a plurality of servers in a video-on-demand network of a tree topology and optimal assignment of a plurality of programs to each of the servers comprising: means for minimizing the total cost of the plurality of servers, plus the total cost of the plurality of programs assigned to the servers, plus the total cost of bandwidth used to broadcast the programs over links of the network; and means for satisfying all the demands for a plurality of programs at a plurality of nodes.
 13. The system as set forth in claim 12, further comprising means using dynamic programming optimization to determine optimal locations of the plurality of servers and optimal assignment of the plurality of programs at each of the servers.
 14. The system as set forth in claim 13, further comprising means using multiple state variables at each of the nodes of the network tree topology, one state variable for each program, wherein each state variable assumes a maximum of three values specifying whether the program is assigned to the node, the program is not assigned to the node but is broadcast into the node, and the program is not assigned to the node and not broadcast into the node.
 15. The system as set forth in claim 14, further comprising means computing the cost at each node as a function of the state variable values at each node.
 16. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said means for using dynamic programming optimization uses dynamic programming equations DPE-CONDIS.
 17. A dynamic programming optimization system for determining optimal locations of a plurality of servers at nodes in a video-on-demand network of a tree topology and optimal assignment of a plurality of programs to each of the servers comprising: means for providing a solution to the CONDIS Model including: means for minimizing the total cost of the plurality of servers installed at nodes of the network of a tree topology, plus the total cost of a plurality of programs assigned to the nodes, plus the total cost of bandwidth used over a plurality of links to broadcast the programs throughout the network; and means for satisfying all requests for a plurality of programs at a plurality of nodes.
 18. The system as set forth in claim 17, further comprising means using dynamic programming method specified by DPM-CONDIS.
 19. The system as set forth in claim 18, further comprising means using dynamic programming equations specified by DPE-CONDIS.
 20. A dynamic programming optimization system for optimal content distribution in a video-on-demand network of a tree topology wherein optimal content distribution comprises optimal locations of a plurality of servers and optimal assignment of a plurality of programs to each of the servers comprising: means for minimizing the total cost of a plurality of servers installed at nodes of a network of a tree topology, plus the total cost of a plurality of programs assigned to the nodes plus the total cost of bandwidth used to broadcast the programs over a plurality of links throughout the network; and means for satisfying demands for a plurality of programs at a plurality of nodes.
 21. The system as set forth in claim 20, further comprising means for providing optimal solution to the CONDIS Model.
 22. The system as set forth in claim 20, further comprising means using dynamic programming specified by DPM-CONDIS and dynamic programming equations specified by DPE-CONDIS. 